Morning journal and courier., 1887-11-03
TREAsURER's REPORT.

Mrs. Helen B. Cowles made the report of the visiting committee at the alm shouse She told about the annual Christmas visit of the ladies of this committee to the inmates of the almshouse in December last.
 eff many of the aick poor could know how much better cared for they would be there than in their own homes, there would not be the strong feelings against removal there which is so often witnessed. The hospital itself is as clean and wholesome as possible under the circumstances, but the whole building is penetrated through and through with the odors of past years and cannot be purified.
 "The new almshouse will be a far greater blessing to the men than to the women. Among the men there are some cranks who ought to be compelled to work, but as they insist they are too feeble for that, they are left to their pipes and idleness.
 During the summer the mum Der of inmates had much decreased and in August there were but 198, but as the colder weather comes on all will be full. There are but few cases of insanity and these are mild, the se- verer ones being taken to Middletown. The few weak-minded ones are usually treated with kindly sympathy by the others and are spoken of by them as a little lght-headed, you know For some of the old women Knitting and patchwork materials have been furnished, which always leads to the desire for more.
 'tThere are but five little ones in the house now, none over two years of age. Four have died during the year. The county home agency is great blessing, in that it takes through the law all over two years of age who are not taken in either of the orphan asylums. The worthless women Gin most cases) and mothers of these little ones are employed only for a short time every day, as where there are so many to do the work of the house it leaves but little for each one The necessity of a workhouse for these women grows upon us in every visit, as we see the twenty, thirty, and even more, some times reckless and abandoned women, most of them still young, sitting about in the large upper room, which extends the entire length of the women's building, with 80 lit tie to do. Small wonder that in minds so devoid of character vice breeds and fits them for repetition of crime when released from here. We always go from this room sad dened in our inability to help.
 'As Thanksgiving day approaches the in- mates are all anticipating the dinner of that day, which the superintendent intends shall be of extra quality and variety, and in our visits made soon after we hear much Tn it's praise. Doubtless through the society we shall give them the usual gifts for Christmas and l would here ask if any friend has or can obtain for this use cards which may have served that day and are ~useable we shali accept them gladly, as these are the re- minders of the bag after the contents of the bags are disposed Of MT. and Mrs. San ford, Mir. and Mrs. Coogan and the other officers there are uniformly courteous and obliging to give us any information asked or to assist in any plans we would attempt, and we would, as we have always done express our thanks to them and our continued conf dence in their wise and judicious manage ment of the poor of our town"
 The report of the Boys club was made by Mrs. Susan NJ. Day. She referred to the great interest among those for whom the club is provided. They are eager for it to open in the autumn, as they regret it's closing in the